Do we live in a simulation? If so, it could be a giant consciousness experimentWed, 23 Sep 2026 15:00:00 +0000 Philosophers have pondered whether we live in a simulation for centuries. Now, Astronomer Royal for Scotland Catherine Heymans suggests a compelling rationale for why our reality might actually be synthetic | |
Lifestyle changes may be as effective as therapy at easing depressionWed, 23 Sep 2026 11:40:01 +0000 Advice about mindful eating, enjoying exercise and getting good-quality sleep was at least as effective for treating depression as cognitive behavioural therapy | |
Severe meningitis outbreak caused by bacteria that took genes from microbiomeWed, 23 Sep 2026 11:31:25 +0000 An unprecedented meningitis outbreak that occurred in Kent, UK, in March seems to have been driven by a bacterial strain taking genes from harmless microbes | |
Is AI really getting dangerously out of control?Wed, 23 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Grim warnings of the existential risk posed by AI are all over the news, but there is very little evidence to back them up | |
El Niño heat could kill half a million people by FebruaryWed, 23 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000 Higher temperatures around the world due to the record-breaking El Niño will lead to an estimated 450,000 extra deaths by February unless swift action is taken, warn researchers | |
How turning electricity directly into food could help save the planetTue, 22 Sep 2026 19:40:00 +0000 Farming is one of the most destructive human activities. Columnist Michael Le Page is excited about developments in electro-ag, in which we can instead turn renewable electricity directly into food | |
Fire amoeba breaks heat tolerance record for complex lifeTue, 22 Sep 2026 15:00:00 +0000 An amoeba living in a Californian hot spring is thriving above 60°C, a threshold previously thought deadly to complex life | |
How ancient superbugs could help us fight antibiotic resistanceTue, 22 Sep 2026 15:00:00 +0000 As the world warms, antibiotic-resistant bacteria are escaping from frozen sediments. But with new monitoring tools, we can identify problem genes and develop treatments before our pathogens acquire them | |
Should we use GLP-1 drugs to treat obesity in children?Tue, 22 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000 Children as young as 8 in the US are being prescribed off-label GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, sparking debate about the potential long-term health effects | |
Worried about an AI apocalypse? Here’s how to think about the risk of doomTue, 22 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Commentators say the probability of machines wiping us out ranges from 0 to over 95 per cent. Columnist Jacob Aron explains why you shouldn't trust any of those numbers | |